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French doors don’t just serve a functional purpose in your home, they can be a great design feature too. With the potential to completely transform the look of your living space, it’s important to pick the right ones.
With various materials, designs and finishes to choose from, initially it can be overwhelming when it comes to buying, but when you know what will work best for you, it’s easy to find windows and doors that complement your style as well as the practical and architectural needs of your home.
French doors are a natural choice for improving both interior and exterior spaces. The large glass panels are perfect for creating an open, airy feeling, allowing natural light to flow freely between spaces.
This flood of light not only brightens a space but can also make smaller rooms feel much larger. External French doors are also perfect for creating flow from indoors to the outdoors. During summer, they’re great for easy outdoor access as well as allowing fresh air to billow though your home.
The fact that you’re able to get both exterior and internal French doors means you’re also able to keep some design consistency within your home too, making the transition between rooms even smoother.
When choosing patio doors, exterior French doors are often top of the list alongside sliding doors and bifold doors. But, will they meet your needs? Ask yourself the following questions to make sure they provide the right balance of style, usability and durability:
When choosing internal French doors, you’ll want to focus on their ability to improve your home’s interior design while still meeting practical needs.
Here are some key questions to help guide your decision:
The material of your French doors can impact durability, style and the level of insulation.
Hardwood French doors are timeless, naturally insulating and are great for adding a more classic feel to your indoor and outdoor spaces, but they do need more maintenance than uPVC or aluminium doors as they don’t have the same level of weather resistance.
Each material has its benefits. Wood offers warmth, uPVC is budget-friendly and low-maintenance, whereas aluminium provides modern, more streamlined looks, strength and is eco-friendly.
uPVC French doors are a low-maintenance and more affordable choice, while thermally broken aluminium French doors are designed to be a more cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative to steel French doors.
Aluminium French doors are strong, modern and like steel doors, can support larger glass panels with slimmer frames, helping to maximise light. They’re also a better choice than other styles of French patio doors if you’re planning to really lean into the industrial look for your home.
Modern French doors are built with energy efficiency and security in mind. To adhere to the high standards expected under building regulations, windows and doors must meet certain criteria for thermal efficiency and safety, regardless of what materials they're made from.
Yes, absolutely! Many French doors today are manufactured with toughened double or triple glazing with the lowest possible U values, which helps maintain indoor temperatures and reduce energy costs.
Aluminium French doors are also thermally broken. Essentially, a thermal break is a material with low thermal conductivity that's placed between the inner and outer aluminium frames of the French door. This creates an insulated barrier that prevents heat and cold from transferring between the inside and outside of the building, helping to really step up the energy efficiency.
Double glazed or triple glazed glass offers superior insulation, while reinforced frames and locking mechanisms improve security.
With multipoint locks, reinforced glass and durable frames, modern French doors provide just as high security levels as any other external doors, while improving access to outdoor spaces.
Whether your style is traditional or contemporary, French doors come in endless variations.
From rustic wood finishes or white primed options for internal French doors, to sleek, minimalist aluminium designs in anthracite grey or black for your home’s exterior doors.
You can customise the door panels, opening sizes and frame finishes to match your space - ensuring your new French doors add to your vision rather than take away from it.
For example, classic homes often benefit from traditional wooden frames, while modern homes might lean toward sleeker aluminium patio door options.
French doors can be customised with different glass types, like frosted or decorative glass, to balance privacy with light.
Choosing frosted or patterned glass for your internal French doors is especially beneficial for rooms such as a home office or walk-in wardrobe, where more light flow is important, but the need for privacy is also paramount.
When installing French doors, there are a few key aspects to consider. Like, do you want your new doors to open inwards or outwards? Is the available space indoors enough to accommodate swinging doors? Is the structural opening large enough to fit double doors, or would a single door with sidelights be better?
Choosing professional installation should ensure a snug fit, minimising air leaks and maintaining energy efficiency.
It’s also essential to check for compatibility with existing door frames or plan any necessary building modifications in advance.
While not mandatory, professional installation helps in a number of ways.
Not only will they be able to measure up accurately (which is especially important for made to measure French doors), a professional installer will also be beneficial when it comes to alignment so the doors function properly, the rework and insulation of the surrounding walls, and ensuring the correct materials and tools are used when fitting the doors.
Usually, a reputable installer will also guarantee their work, ensuring any issues that may arise after installation are dealt with. While it will be more expensive initially, it’s always worth considering hiring a professional if you’re not 100% confident in your DIY skills to help mitigate any issues later down the line.
French doors are known for their classic design features, but they can also help add value and desirability to a property due to the improved flow between rooms, better natural light and the accessibility benefits wider door openings offer.
Indirectly they can, yes. If you’re considering selling your house in the not too distant future, adding a quality set of exterior French doors to your home can really ramp up the kerb appeal to help attract buyers.
French doors can really change the look of a house as well as how it functions. A French door creates better indoor-outdoor flow, which can increase property value, especially in homes with more scenic outdoor areas and far reaching views.
The right French doors can completely transform a space - offering light, style and practicality in equal measure.
With options that range from traditional to modern, in a variety of materials, sizes and finishes, French doors are one of those patio door types that can be tailored to fit the unique style and function of any home.
Whether you’re looking to brighten up a living room, connect with the outdoors, or add a sympathetic architectural touch, French doors really can be the perfect solution.
Articles & Information
French doors that suit you: Our guide helps you choose the right French doors, combining elegance and practicality for your home.
Discover how exterior French doors can be energy-efficient, offering both style and insulation for your home.
Unlock the beauty of French doors: Gain a comprehensive overview of their history, design, and functionality in this informative guide.
Perfect fit for timeless beauty: Our guide simplifies French door sizing and fitting for an elegant addition to your home.
Discover valuable security tips to safeguard your property with stylish and secure French doors.
Explore essential safety measures to protect children and pets around your elegant French doors.
Learn how to address common French door issues and keep these classic doors functioning flawlessly.
Unlock the charm of French doors: Get answers with our informative guide.
If you have a question which isn't covered by one of our handy guides, why not drop us an email and we'll be happy to assist.
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